Gate-latch



J. M. MATHEWS. GATE LATCH.

110. 520,117. Patented May 22, 1894.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OrFIcE.

JAMES M. MATHEWS, OF SEATTLE, IVASHINGTON.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,117, dated May 22, 1894.

Application filed July 6, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES M. MATHEWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part. of this specification, and in which Figure l is a perspective view showing the latch attached to a gate, the top bar of which extends over the front stile. Fig. 2 shows the manner of attaching it to a gate in which the stile ezitends above the top bar.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to improvements in gate-latches designed for attachment to the top bar of a gate; and consists in certain devices and combinations hereinafter fully described and set forth.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive latch, easily applied to a gate, and one that will automatically fasten the gate when shut from either direction, and render it easy and convenient to open the gate from either side. 7

In the drawings, G is the top bar of a gate, S the front stile, P the gate-post.

A is the latch proper.

B is a cross-bar placed horizontally and at a right angle to A, and terminating at each end in a handle H. These handles may be of any desired size and form.

The latch A, bar B, handles H and shouldersF are made in one piece in cast or wrought metal.

The latch is attached to the gate by means of a clasp or cap-plate C, also of cast or wrought metal, and of the peculiar construction shown in the drawings. It is fastened to the gate-bar G by screws at 0. At E are horizontal loops or grooves in 0 just large enough to receive the bar B, and forming loose bearings therefor. At D is another loop in C under which the latch A passes, the object of this loop being to regulate the height to which the latch may be raised.

0n the same side of the bar B to which the latch is attached are two stops or shoulders Serial No. 479,779. (No model.)

F designed to fit against the inner edge of the clasp O and prevent a lateral movement of the latch; or the same object may be attained by placing a staple of suitable size and form, over the latch A near the bar B.

The bearings at E are placed as near to the handles H as possible so as to strengthen the bar 13; and, for a similar reason, with regard to A, the loop D is placed near the front end of the gate.

One end of the bar B is somewhat longer than the other, so as to allow it to pass beyond the pickets I.

To fasten the gate it is only necessary, as in the case of many other gravity latches to push it inward till the latch strikes the upper beveled edge of the keeper L, when it will rise and pass into the notch in the upper edge of the keeper; to unfasten it, it is only necessary to raise the latch by turning the handle H.

M (Fig. 2) is a slot in the stile S, through which the latch A passes when the stile extends above the top bar of the gate.

As will be seen by reference to the drawings, the latch may be reversed either laterally or longitudinally, thus making it adj ustable to either end of the gate, at the same time keeping the long arm of the handle-bar on that side of the gate having the pickets.

The special advantages of this latch are its cheapness, simplicity, and easy adjustment to the gate, no fitting being required except in the unusual construction of gate shown in Fig. 2. Itis strong, durable, and efiective in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-" In a gate latch, the combination with the reversible latch bar A, the handle bar 13, having shoulders F, and handles H all made of a single piece, of the cap plate 0 having loop D which limits the upward movement of the latch bar A and bearings E formed therein, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. MATHEWS.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. WRIGHT, J. R. MCDONALD. 

